North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says his team cannot afford to cry over spilt milk despite losing yet another close AFL encounter.

West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui took a spectacular pack mark and then converted the match-winning goal after the final siren to consign the Kangaroos to a two-point defeat, 12.18 (90) to 13.10 (88).

We've shown we can compete against good sides. Now we've got to be able to finish off good sides and we haven't been able to do that on a couple of occasions now.

Brad Scott

It was the third close loss North Melbourne had suffered this season, following on from tight defeats to Geelong (four points) and Hawthorn (three points).

Richmond failed to make the finals last year after losing six games by two goals or less and North Melbourne (3-5) are now in danger of following suit.

But Scott brushed aside suggestions his side's recent knack of losing close games could end up haunting them, saying the Kangaroos' ability to match it with heavyweights Geelong, Hawthorn and West Coast proved they were on the right track.

"If we don't finish where we want to finish at the end of the year, do we look back and say 'what if?' We're not about that," Scott said. "We'd be crazy just to sit here crying over spilt milk.

"We've shown we can compete against good sides. Now we've got to be able to finish off good sides and we haven't been able to do that on a couple of occasions now."

Scott described the loss to West Coast as gut-wrenching, especially after the Kangaroos opened up a 15-point lead midway through the final quarter.

"It's not an inability to handle pressure or anything like that," Scott said.

"It's just an inexperienced team making some crucial mistakes.

"The tiny things are killing us. But they are really fixable."

The Kangaroos take on Adelaide at Docklands on Sunday week, but midfielder Scott Thompson faces a nervous wait after being reported for striking Matt Rosa in an off-the-ball incident.

West Coast (4-4) kept its top-four hopes alive with the thrilling win, and Naitanui's heroics at the death are sure to be replayed for years to come.

With just 30 seconds remaining, Naitanui came from five deep to take a spectacular pack mark, before calmly converting the set shot from 22m out.

After the match, Eagles coach John Worsfold joked he could have done with Naitanui's heroics in the dying moments of the 2005 grand final, when Sydney's Leo Barry took a match-saving mark right at the death.

"Then it would have been Leo who?" Worsfold said with a smile.

Naitanui said his match-winning moment was made extra special due to recent circumstances.

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